The person blamed for this calamity is our very own U.S. Rep. John Mica, a regular one-man Tea Party terrorist cell.

There is a reason for the hyperbole. Democrats want to distract you from what is really going on because this self-inflicted wound is entirely their doing.

The flap is over federal subsidies for rural airports, known as the Essential Air Service program.

It began in 1978 when the feds deregulated airlines. The smaller, unprofitable rural airports were going to lose their service.

So the feds gave carriers cash incentives to continue flights.

The subsidies were supposed to last only 10 years as the airports weaned themselves off federal support. But, as always happens with government handouts, once they start they never stop. The politicians and their constituents get hooked on them.

Democrats and Republicans alike have glommed onto this pork. We actually had some of the same Republicans who decried federal spending during the debt-limit meltdown protest cuts to this program when their own airports were at risk.

This subsidy now costs about $200 million.

We pay Great Lakes Airlines $3,720 for each passenger flying into or out of Ely, Nev. I found a flight there from Orlando for $268, meaning the subsidy would be almost 14 times the ticket price. If your flight is delayed, the Stardust Ranch brothel is only a 12-minute drive.

Mica, who leads the House Transportation Committee, targeted some of this waste in what usually is a uncontroversial funding extension for the FAA.

He eliminated 13 of 150 airports in the program, including two key ones: Pine County in Nevada and the Morgantown Municipal Airport in West Virginia.

Pine County is in the home state of Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid.

Morgantown is in the home state of Sen. Rockefeller, who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

After sending the measure to the Senate, the House adjourned.

Take it or leave it.

Naturally Reid and Rockefeller were outraged, blaming the Republicans for shutting down the FAA and calling this an assault on rural America.

But all those FAA contractors and workers still would be working and most rural airports still would be getting their subsidies, if the Senate simply had passed the House measure.

What this really seems to be about is Rockefeller losing the $1.5 million in pork going to his airport and Reid losing the $1.75 million in pork going to his airport.

It's more than just the money. It's the ego and the bitterness from losing the debt-limit battle. It's like a boxer who lost the big fight and went home and kicked his dog.

Losing twice is hard to do when you control two-thirds of the government.

This isn't to say Mica didn't screw up. He should have phased out all airport subsidies. If someone chooses to live in Hooterville, it's not my responsibility to fly him there.

We face $2.4 trillion in cuts. Marines will be going on patrol with BB guns. Heart surgeons will be getting 89 cents for bypass surgeries.